Talented Martial Hero
Chapter 709 Ulin's Hunt

Darren and the Water Kylin stood before the mysterious cave in the Ancient Void Battlefield, eying itcarefully.

"It has the same aura as the cave outside,” Darren observed. "Finley once said that he had somegrand adventure to do with this cave, and comprehended the Life True Rule here, in front of it. Iwonder if there's a huge treasure hidden inside.”

Darren recalled that on the day Finley was cultivating by himself in front of this cave, the Water Kylinhad showed up and disturbed his cultivation. Then, the Water Kylin was smashed to death by Finley,but was resurrected the next moment with the help of Finley's Life True Rule.

"Humph!" the Water Kylin snorted. "Finley is always someplace else when he's really needed—unlikeme, who is always faithful and ready to protect you. Isn't that right, master?”

"Cut the crap,” Darren scolded. "Let's just focus on busting into this cave together.”

"That's not a good idea," his companion replied, ignoring the rebuke. "With our full strengthcombined, we would easily cause the Ancient Void Battlefield to collapse.”

Darren frowned. "You're right. I didn't think of that. Let's try and take it easy, then. We'll control ourstrength and hit the restriction of the cave little by little.”

"Very well. Let's give it a try," the Water Kylin agreed.

With that, the two focused their power together and started to bombard the cave, carefully testingits strength. However, the runes covering its outer layer seemed impervious to their efforts.

After a moment, Darren suddenly felt something strange.

However, it had to do with another person rather than with the cave.

As the controller of the Ancient Void Battlefield, Darren was able to sense what was going on witheveryone in this small world.

His eyes fell on a stream, where a beautiful figure lay among the flower shrubs.

It was Denise, writhing and struggling as though she had fallen and found herself unable to rise."What's going on?" Darren wondered aloud, aghast. "Someone has hurt Denise!"

Glancing at the Water Kylin, he said, "We have to stop! Wait here.”

Having said this, he flew over to the stream.

"Denise, what's wrong with you?"

Darren couldn't keep the dismay from his voice. Denise's normally lovely visage was now as pale aspaper, and marred by a sickly, miserable expression

"Oh, there you are, Darren."

Saying this, the woman smiled bitterly.

"You were gone for such a long time—I thought you'd forgotten me. Yet one day I realized I was stilljust as lonely as before. Butterflies and fish and flowers could not talk to me, listen to me, or loveme..."

Her voice was strange—weak, low and raspy, and Darren's heart ached all the more for it.

Still, he had a clear enough head to not waste time answering her ramblings. The important thingwas to keep her alive.

He sat down beside Denise, focused, and poured spiritual energy into her.

A moment passed, and Darren was alarmed to replace that his efforts were proving useless. In fact,Denise seemed to be getting worse.

Though her lips trembled, she seemed to have lost her voice altogether.

Growing more anxious by the second, Darren concentrated and tried again. This time, though, healso sent his spiritual sense into Denise's body along with the spiritual energy. This way, he hoped,he would at least be able to replace out what was wrong with her.

A few seconds later, he was shocked by what he found.

In Denise's body, there was a sort of aura that was exactly the same as that of the two caves.

Darren had no time to marvel over this, however.

At that very moment, the Ancient Void Battlefield shook with an explosive roar.

The Water Kylin was beside Darren in a second.

"Master, something's wrong!" he stammered. "Someone is attacking the Ancient Void Battlefield!"Darren didn't answer at first. He was well aware of the situation.

But Denise was right in front of him, and still in mortal danger!

After thinking for a short moment, Darren turned to his companion. "Here, take Denise to Diana, theHoly Lord, and ask her to take care of her for me. I have to go deal with whoever's causing thisattack. If the Ancient Void Battlefield is destroyed, we'll all die.”

"Okay, master. As soon as Denise is safe, I'll catch up with you. Good luck!" Saying this, the WaterKylin flew into the sky, carrying the ailing damsel on his back.

As soon as they were gone, Darren immediately vanished into thin air.

He detected a powerful demonic aura in the black water right as he emerged at his destination. Thepresence was unmistakable. It was Ulin.

"Master, I've lost my way,” Darren murmured warily as he looked about and finally laid eyes on theintruder.

"You've got that right.” Ulin's reply was full of malevolence. "So it turns out there is someone else inthis world who's as cunning as I am. Seems I underestimated you, Darren.”

"It seems that way,” Darren said, replaceing his usual calm manner. "So, what are you going to do now?Kill me?"

"Of course I will. But first I want to know, what was that grain of sand? It seems to be very similar toour ancient space.”

Saying this, Ulin released his rule power and shackled Darren with it.

Even as its immense pressure immobilized him, Darren kept his cool. “Listen, why don't we finish thischat outside? If I'm going to be dead soon, it'd be nice to see the outdoors for one last time first.”Ulin shook his head. "Actually, I prefer it in here. Let's try a different question. How did you replace thisplace?”

In reality, Ulin himself had found the stone gate to this cave a long time ago.

His many attempts to open it had failed. Neither his rule power nor his physical strength had availedhim in the slightest.

"Oh, come on," Darren complained, dodging the question again. "Where's the harm in goingoutside? You know that I can't escape from you now."

"Well, aren't you an honest and forthright man?" Ulin retorted drily. "Still, you have potential. If youare willing to be my slave, I'm willing to spare your life." Saying this, he loosened Darren's shackle.For all the threats he had made, Ulin recalled that Darren was both a sword cultivator and a bladecultivator, and that he also possessed the dragon bloodline. He would have hated to kill such atalented individual as Darren, when he might instead have him as a follower. Vicious and wilythough he was, Ulin could not pass up a chance at such a prize.

"Let's not waste any time, then, and finish our discussion out there.”

Saying this, Darren took the lead in flying out.

Though he did his best to look casual, he used all his strength to make sure he stayed ahead of Ulin.As they went, he used his spiritual sense to speak with the Water Kylin. "How is Denise? Is she allright, Water Kylin?"

"Master, good news!" came the reply. "She's recovered. She's looking much better all of a sudden.”"That's good," Darren responded simply. Despite his profound relief at the news, he had no time toask for details, nor was he in the mood for them.

"Master, did Ulin come to kill us?" asked the Water Kylin excitedly. "We should fight him together!""No, stay put. Stay hidden. If it comes to a fight, your sudden attack might be helpful,” Darrenexplained.

"You're right, I understand,” the Water Kylin agreed.

Just then Ulin finally caught up with Darren. Flying right beside him, he reached over and clappedhis nemesis on the shoulder.

"What a talented young man!" he exclaimed with exaggerated warmth. "The reputation of yourstrength and potential is well-deserved.”

"You don't have to say that,” Darren answered coldly. "Just to be clear, I will never serve you."

"Well, you don't have to if you don't want to!" Ulin said with a strange voice.

"Oh, so you're just going to go easy on me and let me go this time?" Darren knew there was nochance of this, however, and his question had been little more than a joke.

"Go easy on you? Don't be so naive, young man. As a matter of fact, I've changed my mind. Even ifyou had accepted my offer, there's no doubt you'd prove a danger to me in the future, sooner orlater. So I think I'll just kill you instead right now.” When he had said this, Ulin's eyes began to glowas the power of an evil spirit rose up within him

Thinking fast, Darren tried to stall for time. "Really, Ulin? I thought I was little more than an insect toyou. Why, then, are you in such a hurry to dispose of me?

Are you feeling guilty and just hoping to get it over with? Or are you afraid of giving me a chance toput up a real fight?"

"Afraid of you? What a joke!" Ulin sneered, too enraged to do anything but respond. "You'renobody, Darren, and we both know it.

I've once killed the Lord of the Sacred Palace. Just who the hell do you think you are?"

Darren cracked a sly smile. "Is killing a lord by trickery really something worth bragging about?""That's bullshit!" Ulin snarled lividly. "I fought him man-to-man! I would never..." But he trailed offthen, shaking his head, and a wicked smile took over his face. "You silly little boy. You must thinkyou're really clever, stalling for time like this.”

Despite the animosity he bore toward Darren, Ulin couldn't help but be impressed. He hadn'tthought his opponent would be capable of fooling him.

Nevertheless, Ulin was just about done playing games. Being impressed with Darren wasn't enoughto let him live.